PUT THE KETTLE ON

Frazzled by the demands of daily life, we’ve never been more in need of a cuppa. Fortunately, a recent research review published in the journal Nutrition and Food Technology encourages us to keep up the steady stream of steaming mugs, concluding that the benefits of the humble tea bag are felt in both heart and mind.

‘There’s emerging evidence that tea drinking (black and green) could aid relaxation and is associated with lower stress, dementia risk and cognitive decline, as well as potentially improving attention and psychomotor speed as we age,’ says dietitian and Tea Advisory Panel member Carrie Ruxton. ‘This adds to clear data over the past 20 years that drinking tea regularly lowers blood pressure and significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks.’

Plus, when it comes to our social wellbeing, tea is an unsung hero. More than half of British tea drinkers find the tea round at work helps them to feel connected to colleagues, according to a recent poll **** . It’s always nice to be offered a warm brew, but don’t cancel out the goodness with too many biscuits!